Maldives Education Spending
Government expenditure on education as % of GDP SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS
Maldives's education spending was 5.25% in 2025, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 1.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2002–2025.
Overview
Maldives's education spending stood at 5.25% in 2025, a rise of +0.08% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 5.25% by 2025. Maldives ranked 45th globally.
Maldives’ education spending, measured as a share of gross domestic product, stood at 5.25 % in 2025, placing the island nation 45th in the world. The figure follows a gradual decline from an all‑time peak of 5.85 % in 2020 and remains well above the all‑time trough of 3.08 % recorded in 2011, suggesting that the post‑trough recovery has been sustained but has not returned to the pre‑pandemic high. Over the 23‑year series, the Maldives’ level of investment is comparable to that of Australia (5.24 % in 2025) and Spain (5.26 % in 2025), both of which rank near the same position in the global distribution. The modest downward drift since 2020 may reflect fiscal pressures from climate‑related infrastructure needs and a relatively small tax base, while the earlier trough coincided with the global financial crisis aftermath. If the government can preserve or modestly raise the current share, perhaps by expanding non‑tax revenue or targeting efficiency gains, the downward trajectory could be halted and a modest upward trend re‑established.
Data & projection
| Year | Education Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 5.34% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 5.25% | - | - |
| 2025 | 5.25% | +0.08% | #45 |
| 2023 | 5.17% | +0.49% | #94 |
| 2022 | 4.67% | +0.06% | #105 |
| 2021 | 4.61% | −1.23% | #91 |
| 2020 | 5.85% | +1.72% | #140 |
| 2019 | 4.12% | +0.27% | #83 |
| 2018 | 3.86% | +0.03% | #73 |
| 2017 | 3.82% | +0.16% | #76 |
| 2016 | 3.66% | −0.21% | #58 |
| 2015 | 3.87% | +0.78% | #69 |
| 2014 | 3.09% | −0.30% | #41 |
| 2013 | 3.39% | +0.05% | #47 |
| 2012 | 3.34% | +0.26% | #51 |
| 2011 | 3.08% | −0.55% | #44 |
| 2010 | 3.63% | −1.45% | #59 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Maldives matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2011. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Maldives's education spending was 5.25% in 2025. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 1.6% increase from the previous year.
Maldives's education spending peaked at 5.85% in 2020.
The lowest education spending in Maldives was 3.08% in 2011.
Maldives ranks 45th globally in education spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Maldives's education spending is projected to reach 5.25% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The education spending of Maldives in 2025 was 5.25%. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_maldives_education-spending-gdp,
title = {Maldives Education Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/maldives/education-spending-gdp/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}